..  It’s not the size of a zoo that determines its conservation efforts, but rather the passion of the staff and volunteers who coordinate it's conservation efforts.

..  Blank Park Zoo (Des Moines, Iowa) sits on 22 developed acres. Since 1986, we have been raising funds to send to conservation projects around the world. Yes, we started small, raising $1,500 and $1,000 in our first 2 years for a lemur reintroduction project in Madagascar.  Most of the money was raised by painting children’s faces – and trust me, that’s a lot of little faces! 

...Jump ahead 15 years to 2011 and the transition is amazing:

..  *  Over $26,000 distributed in 2010,

..  *  Ongoing project partners include:
......  .*  International Snow Leopard Trust
.....  ..*  Hornbill Foundation
....  ...*  Pan African Sanctuary Alliance
.......  *  African Predator Conservation Research Organization
.......  *  Warren County Conservation

..  *  Multiple one-time grants

..  *  2011 special projects include:
.......  *  Health in Harmony – rainforest education materials
......  .*  PASA – equipment and uniforms for chimp monitors

..  * Miscellaneous income from a vending machine in the breakroom, cans/bottles, ink cartridge recycling, Pampered Chef, raffle baskets, to name a few.

..  In 2010, BPZ began Coins for Conservation. For every admission sold, 25 cents goes to conservation, for every membership $1. Visitors choose which project they would like to support using a coin in special machines. For 2011, the local project is the Greater Prairie Chicken Project, national is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and international is the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.

..  On site, BPZ has implemented a variety of conservation efforts including:

..  *  Vermicomposting (yes, we have a worm farm)
..  *  Evening fundraisers featuring speakers from conservation partners
..  *  Reduce, reuse, and recycle whenever and wherever we can
..  *  A butterfly garden and chimney swift tower
..  *  Eco-friendly vehicles

For more information about Blank Park Zoo’s conservation efforts, visit www.blankparkzoo.com/en/conservation/

 

For more information please email

info@zaccconference.com